17 Amazing Health Benefits of Palak, Spinach + Healthy Recipes

For many years, nutritionists and mothers have known about the awesome power of spinach and its importance to a healthy diet. After all, there is a reason your mother always encouraged you to eat your spinach, and Popeye can certainly confirm to the awesome power of this leafy veggie.

17 Health Benefits of Spinach, Palak

1. Good Source of Iron :Spinach is one of the richest plant sources of Iron and it should be part of a healthy diet for everyone, from the youngest child to the oldest adult. Cooked spinach is an excellent source of iron, a mineral that it particularly important for menstruating women, who are more at risk for iron deficiency. Boosting iron stores with spinach is a good idea, especially because, in comparison to red meat, a well-known source of iron, spinach provides iron for a lot less calories and is totally fat-free.

2. Great Source of Insoluble Fiber :
Raw spinach is very rich in insoluble fibre, 25% having soluble fiber and 75% insoluble fiber. The insoluble fibre contained in spinach has also been associated with protecting the heart and other vital organs from damage. Also known to prevent colon cancer as it removes toxic waste from our body quickly.

3. Good for Eyes :
Beta Carotene, Lutein and Xanthene are all present in good quantities in Spinach which are great for your eyes and protect against age related macular degeneration- the leading cause of loss of vision. It also reduces puffiness and irritation of the eyes.

4. Anti Inflammatory :
Spinach is a great Antioxidant and also one of the best vegetables to reduce cellular inflammation. Cutting out processed foods and sugar will go a long way in living a healthy lifestyle. One of the antioxidant found in spinach is factor CO-Q10 which is very important in strengthening your muscles, especially heart muscles and pump blood to different parts of your body.

5. Aids in Weight Loss :
To reduce your overall calorie intake for a healthy weight loss, you need to replace your high calorie food with the lower ones. 1½ cup of spinach contains only 26 calories which is remarkably low. You can easily include the fresh green colored spinach in place of calories loaded with saturated fats and simple sugars. Thus aids in your weight loss goals. Also spinach is a good source of fiber which will make you feel full for a longer period of time. Thus contributes in lowering your total calorie intake.

6. Diabetic friendly : With exceptionally low carbohydrate content, spinach is considered as one of the super food for diabetics. Due to low CHO content, the glycemic load of 1½ cup of spinach is just 1. This makes spinach a very safe option for consumption. Limiting the amount of carbohydrate intake per meal to manage your blood sugar levels is important. Around 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrate is advisable per meal depending on your blood glucose levels. The fiber content in spinach also helps in maintaining your blood sugar levels. You can include spinach in your paratha, tikkis, sabji and make it more nutritious. Try making spinach juice combined with other vegetables low in calories such as tomato, cucumber or mix fresh spinach in salads.

7. Rich in Vitamin C :
Spinach is rich in Vitamin C which has immune fighting effect. It forms an important defence against cold and cough.

8. Rich in Vitamin A :
Topping the list of nutrients for healthy vision is Vitamin A and spinach has plenty of it. Vitamin A is an essential vitamin for proper vision and proves to be very beneficial for the development of growth, regulation of epithelial tissues and immunity.

9. Make your bones strong :
Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale contain good amounts of Calcium which is a mineral that makes bones stay This will prevent you from the risk of osteoporosis.

11. Healthy Brain and Nervous System :
Most vegetables are rich in Vitamin B6 and help maintain a healthy nervous system.Potassium being an important part of brain health, it is associated with increased blood flow to the brain, improving your cognitive abilities and concentration.Green leafy vegetables such as spinach is a good source of niacin, thus helps in improving brain functions.

12. Improves your heart health :
Spinach is a very good source of folic acid which is known to reduce the homocysteine levels responsible for cardiovascular diseases. A special pigment called lutein is present in spinach that reduces the onset of atherosclerosis and many other heart related diseases. It also lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and fat deposition in the blood vessels. Thus spinach proves to be beneficial for your heart.

14. Good source of Zinc :Zinc helps in immunity building, good for skin and fights cancer.

15. Lowers Insulin Level :
Spinach is a dark green leafy vegetable which is high in Magnesium which helps in formation of bones, lowers insulin levels and helps in metabolism of calcium and potassium.

16. Provides Energy :
Spinach is rich in Vitamin B1, thiamin or thiamine which is essential for glucose metabolism. It extracts energy from our food and converts it into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the biochemical form in which our body stores and uses energy. Also rich in Vitamin B2, also known as Riboflavin, enables you to get usable energy from the foods you eat.

Healthy Spinach Recipes

With all the benefits spinach has to offer we have used in a wide variety of recipes, from juices, soups to salads, from side dishes to main courses. We have made sure that the soup recipes have no cornflour as that is bad for your health as it spikes your blood sugar level up and shuts down the fat burning process. Try the super healthy Spinach Paneer and Dal soup which is only 72 calories. Pair that with Bajra Roti had with Spinach Mushroom Subzi with Palak Raita.

Onions and black pepper add a wonderful flavour to this spinach based soup while paneer gives a rich texture. Generally, mild flavours are preferred during the first trimester, but if you yearn for – and can comfortably handle – a little more spice, add one or two cloves of garlic or a quarter or a teaspoon of mixed herbs to pep up this nutritious soup.
Spinach is rich in folic acid, Iron and Fiber and Paneer in Protein, Calcium and energy, so whether you like it soft or perky, the Spinach and Paneer Soup is a must-have!

Spinach and curds is always a very nutritious combo, making this raita a must-have. Traces of pepper and sugar make the spinach raita tastier, while the green chillies add a bit of fire to an otherwise bland raita. Steaming the spinach not only makes mixing easier, it also becomes a bit easy on the stomach.

Toss up a tongue-tickling salad of bean sprouts, spinach and veggies, laced with a creamy celery dressing made with low-fat curds. Contrasting shades of carrot and greens in an off-white background make the Spinach and Bean Sprouts Salad in Creamy Celery Dressing a delight to behold, while the tangy hints of lemon and peppy pepper excite the taste buds.
The protein, vitamin A, folic acid, fibre and other nutrients in this salad will help fight infections, nourish your skin and make you glow with good health.
Serve with Parsley and Garlic Loaf and a bowl of Carrot and Coriander Soup .

Imagine packing a nice, satiating dip in your kids’ snack box. Along with something refreshing like cucumber or carrot sticks, it would transform their break into a very jolly and relaxing time. The Spinach Hummus is the perfect choice for this, because it is colourful, healthy and filling too as it is loaded with chickpeas and spinach. Apt ingredients like green chilli paste, curds and lemon juice impart an exciting flavour and perfect texture to the hummus, which stays fresh in the tiffin box for around 5 hours. To save time, you can cook the chickpeas the previous night itself. If doing so, add a little more water when blending the chickpeas the next morning. Also pack some Chatpata Popcorn ( Tiffin Treats) in another tiffin for a perfect short break combo.

The Spinach Mushroom Subzi is a luxuriant dish that vibrates with the effect of spices, whole and ground. The contrasting textures of mushrooms and spinach make the subzi a delight to chew while the addition of fresh cream gives it a lusciously rich mouth-feel.
You must take care not to over-cook the mushrooms as they will shrink and lose their nice texture. A range of spices and spice powders come together with ingredients like ginger, garlic, tomatoes and onions to give this dish its remarkable flavour and aroma.
Serve it hot with Aloo Paratha , Paneer Kulcha or Naan .

Now that your baby is above the age of eight months, try this wholesome Spinach Paneer Purée. The addition of spinach provides iron, while delicious paneer provides calcium for the healthy growth of your baby's bones.
The apt combination of ingredients gives a very appealing taste, even without the need for salt or sugar, and an attractive colour too.
At this stage, you should start experimenting with foods that are vibrantly coloured, such as foods using spinach, beetroot, carrots, etc., so that the baby finds it visually appealing and becomes naturally curious to try tasting it.
This natural attraction to foods, will make meal times more fun rather than having to force food down your baby’s throat!

Light and tasty, the Spinach and Paneer Dip has a perfect medley of textures and flavours.
Creamy spinach, crumbly paneer and crunchy onions, delicately flavoured with herbs and lemon juice, this diabetic -friendly dip is quite a treat to the palate. Team it with cucumber sticks, to make a sprightly snack!

Here is a cool and healthy cleanser to start your day with. The lemon in this dark green juice helps to retain the colour and enhance the absorption of iron in it.
The greens and the jal jeera powder together are ideal for stimulating the digestive system and replacing the lost minerals. Digestive oils in mint aid digestion. Have this Spinach and Mint Juice on an empty stomach daily. Do not eat anything immediately in order to let this juice do its work and help you steer clear of indigestion.

Iron being needed to make blood and deliver oxygen to the cells, its deficiency results in lethargy and slowed mental function. This juice is apt to keep anaemia at bay.
It has the goodness of spinach, beetroot, apple and orange. Spinach acts as iron builder whereas apples and beetroot impart little sweetness.
Oranges are added to benefit from its high vitamin C content, which in turn has a helping hand in enhancing the absorption of iron.
Enjoy the drink with nutritious snacks like Mini Nachni and Bajra Khakhra , Shepu Sweet Idlis or Vegetable Corn Bake .